Sickbed waste disposal



Feb. 15, 1955 D. s. PARSONS 2,701,332

SICKBED WASTE DISPOSAL I Filed Feb. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G. 5. v F

L I I 37 inventor: DAVID S. PARSONS,

' Gttorneg 5 Feb. 15, 1955 D. s. PARSONS 2,701,382

v SICKBED WASTE DISPOSAL Filed Feb. 7, 1952 2 SheetsSheet 2 42 inventor:

SONS,

DAVID S. PAR

Gttornegs United Stat Pa SICKBED WASTE DISPOSAL David Samuel Parsons, Ogden, Utah Application February 7, 1952, Serial No. 270,385

2 Claims. (Cl. -91) This invention relates to sickbed waste disposal, and more particularly to apparatus for facilitating such disposa The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby persons confined to bed shall be cared for with a minimum of discomfort, and whereby other persons, such as nurses, shall accomplish the necessary sickbed service with maximum efficiency.

In accomplishing the purpose of the invention, a mattress is provided which has in general, much-the same construction as is used in hospitals, and in other mattresses designed to serve sickroom requirements.

The novel facilities provided by means of the invention comprise a well which preferably extends completely through the mattress from top to bottom, this well having a peculiarly advantageous arrangement of component parts. In the first place, the well opening has two rings preferably made of a vulcanizable substance such as sponge rubber. .These rings from top to bottom of the mattress are in axial alignment with each other, so that the top and bottom surfaces of the rings extend substantially at right angles to the axis of the well. The surfaces of the mattress ticking which contact the circular surfaces of the rings are vulcanized or otherwise made virtually integral'with the rings. The inside of the well may consist of a piece of ticking that follows the circumferential wall surface of the well. The marginal top, and bottom marginal, surfaces of the cylindrical ticking are vulcanized to the respective sponge rubber rings, and complete the well opening. Normally, when the facility is not in use, the well space is completely filled by means of a resilient plug which may be made of ticking to form a casing for containing any usual mattress filling. At such times as the facility is in use, a suspensory sling, advantageously in the form of a collapsible container made of resilient material such as sheet rubber, is placed in the well to receive the waste matter. Thus, the sling may form a removable lining for the well. The sling is open at the top thereof, and is provided with a substantially integral collar or ring which lies fiat and extends transversely of the sling so as to form a marginal rim. Openings, to serve as finger holds, are spaced conveniently around the outer peripheral portion of the rim so that an attendant can gather the peripheral portions together with the fingers of one hand for the purpose of removing the sling from the bed.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of the one filed by me on May 4, 1951, Serial No. 224,522 which has since become abandoned.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an excellent embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section taken through a portion of a bed along the line 11 in Fig. 5, drawn to an enlarged scale; and showing the normal condition where the plug is in place;

Fig. 2, a vertical section similar to Fig. l, but showing a suspensory sling in place ready for use after the plug has been removed;

Fig. 2A, approximately the portion enclosed by broken line 2A in Fig. 2;

F Fig. 3, a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4, a fragmentary enlargement of approximately the portion enclosed by the broken line 4 in Fig. 1, the plug however, being shown in section;

Fig. 5, a plan of a complete bed, drawn to a reduced scale;

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- Fig. 6, a plan similar to Fig. 5, but showing the bed sheets with a flap folded back in readiness for the plug to be removed, and the suspensory sling to be inserted instead;

Fig. 7, a plan view of Fig. 2, drawn to a reduced scale;

Fig. 7A, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 7A7A in Fig. 7;

Fig. 8, a plan similar to Fig. 7, but showing the rim of the suspensory sling gathered together for removal;

Fig. 9, a vertical section taken on the line 88 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 10, a perspective of the plug apart from the mattress;

Fig. 11, an enlargement of Fig. 4 showing details.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 3, the numeral 20 denotes a mattress which in general is of usual construction, but is equipped with the invention apparatus. In this instance it is assumed that the mattress is stuffed with any usual filling material 21 of fibrous texture. The invention, however, is especially well adapted for use with so-called springmattresses (not shown).

In the body of the mattress 20 is formed a well 22, which in Fig. 1 is shown occupied by a plug 23. The plug fills the well and to all intents and purposes leaves the mattress substantially intact so far as the normal use is concerned.

The well 22, in the present instance, is at least partially defined by means of two rings or collars, an upper one 24, and a lower one 24a. Both collars are embedded in the fibrous material 21 and are positioned inside and immediately adjacent the respective cover surfaces of the mattress 20. It is convenient to locate the well to one side of the mattress center line so as to leave a considerable surface vacant on the other side. In reversing the mattress, the well has alternative positions on opposite sides of the mattress center line.

The collars 24 and 24a are securely held in place internally of the mattress structure by vulcanizing to the tick- .ing 25 of the mattress, and further, by vulcanizing to the wall 26 of the well 22. The Wall 26 in'the plan view, follows a closed curve, circular, oval or elliptical, as desired. After vulcanizing to the respective collars 24 and 24a, there is left a smoothly defined circular well extending through the thickness of the mattress from top to bottom. 1n the present instance the collars are assumed to be made of sponge rubber or other similar material, and the vulcanizing is effected by impregnating the marginal surfaces of the ticking 25 and the marginal surfaces of the cylindrical wall 26 with a substance such as latex, which, after vulcanizing, causes these marginal portions to be substantially one in structure with the respective collars 24 and 24a. Thus is formed a well structure which is substantially unitary with the structure of the mattress. The resiliency and springiness of the mattress is fully retained in and around the well portion thereof.

The unitary construction between the mattress proper and the well is instrumental in making the normal use of the mattress, with its plug inserted therein, continuous along the bearing surface which is uppermost. To aid in achieving this result, the plug 23 may be provided with a circumferential bead 27 which is engaged in a circumferential groove 28 in whichever collar 24 or 24a happens to be uppermost at the time. Since the mattress is reversible, it is seen that the alignment of the plug with the respective surfaces of the mattress is in alternative relation.

The manner in which the collars 24 and 24a are held in place by vulcanizing, is indicated in Fig. 11. Here the vulcanization 29 unites the ticking 25 to the upper collar 24, while the vulcanization at 30 unites the cylindrical wall 26 near the top of the well to the same collar. Similarly the cylindrical wall 26 near the bottom thereof is vulcanized to the collar 24a. The approximate arrangement between the bead 27 and the groove 28 is also shown in Fig. 11. To form the bead 27, a cord 31 may be circumferentially imbedded in the filling of the plug 23 and be enclosed in the ticking cover 42. The cord 31 inside the ticking at 27 virtually constitutes a core for the bead 27.

In using the waste disposal, the plug 23, by means of a strap 32, is lifted out of the well, after which a flexible suspensory sling receptacle 33 is put in place of the plug,

as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7. The sling has the body portion 34 and the rim 35, which latter is spread over the bedding as a protective covering. The rim 35 is provided with circumferentially spaced finger openings 36 which latter are provided with reinforcements 36a. By means of the reinforced finger openings, an attendant gathers the rim together, in approximately radial folds, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, where the body of the sling is shown hanging in the form of a limp, imperforate bag. It is to be noticed that the body of the bag is unbroken in every direction below its rim 35. The limp bag readily collapses and is easily withdrawn from between the sheets of a sickbed for final disposal. In this instance, four finger openings are shown, but the number can be varied in accordance with individual preferences.

In making the bed it is convenient to provide the pad 37 which has a flap 38, this flap being foldable out of the way for access to the plug 23, as indicated in Fig. 6. Afterwards the flap 38 is replaced, while an opening 39 in the bed sheet 40 is covered by a flap 41, which latter is igetunged from the position in Fig. 6 to the position in Frequently it is desirable to locate the opening 39 in the sheet 40 and the corresponding opening in the pad 37 centrally with respect to the respective widths of the sheet and the pad, so as to make it unnecessary to reverse these when reversing the mattress. This means that more of the width of the sheet and the pad are folded under on one side of the bed than-on the other side.

In Fig. 2A is shown a vessel 43 which may be made of metal or other suitable material and be held in the suspensory sling. If desired the vessel 43 can be made of paper or other material having disposable properties.

As an alternative construction the collars 24 and 24a may be made of sponge plastic which can be laminated to the ticking of the mattress and to the wall of the Well by means of a plastic solvent.

The suspensory sling may be made of material, such as sheet rubber, that hangs limp in the well and is substantially waterproof in texture so as to be used indefinitely. Again, the sling itself may be made of a material that is readilydisposable, such as paper.

In the present showing of the invention the mattress rests on a spring 44.

What is claimed is:

1. Sick bed waste disposal, comprising a mattress; a Well having a cylindrical wall extending through the thickness of said mattress from cover to cover; a collar vulcanized to one cover of said mattress; another collar vulcanized to the opposite cover; a vulcanized juncture between each of the said collars and the respective portions of the said cylindrical wall, each collar having a circumferential groove spaced inwardly from the respective cover; and a plug fitting into said Well, said plug having a circumferential bead that registers with one of the said grooves in one position of the mattress and registers with the other groove when the mattress is reversed.

2. Sickbed waste disposal, comprising a mattress and ticking having a well therein which forms an aperture extending through the thickness of the mattress, a lining for said aperture, the said aperture having orifices at the ends thereof; a collar extending around each orifice, each of said collars having a face cemented to the inside of said ticking and a surface cemented to the lining, each collar further, having a circumferential groove therein; and a plug forming a closure for said well, said plug having a circumferential bead that registers with the particular one of the said circumferential grooves that happens to be uppermost in one position of the mattress and that registers with the other of said circumferential grooves if and when the mattress is reversed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 54,533 Hardwick May 8, 1866 619,708 Angus Feb. 21, 1899 1,510,273 Harper Sept, 30, 1924 1,577,832 Maggi Mar. 23, 1926 1,589,889 Mas etal June 22, 1926 1,886,406 Kuilfin Nov. 8, 1932 1,907,120 Rishel May 2, 1933 2,320,845 Bolton June 1., 1943 2,367,409 Kuhler Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,935 Great Britain May 31, 1917 

